Combination rotary table and pack-off head



May 7, 1940.

F. G. BECKMAN COMBINATION ROTARY TABLE AND PACK OFF HEAD INVENTR.

Filed May 11, 1938 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 7, 1940 TENT comrNA'rIoN aorARY TABLE AND PACK-OFF nerd) a;

Fred G, Beclrman, Muskogee, Okla. Application May 1 1', 1938, Serial No. 207,176

1 Claim.

This invention relates to well drilling 'equipmentand it has particular reference to a combination rotarytableand pack-off head for rotary rigs and its principal object resides in the provision of a novel arrangement of parts combining, in asingle compact unit, a driven element rotating the kelly, or drill stem, and a stufiing box packing off around the kelly while the drilling operationsarein progress, the latter being readily adjustable in operation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an assembly embodying a rotary table operatively engaging the top flange of the well casing or the casing head and thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a rig floor or other supporting device for the assembly yet affording a sturdy and efficient driving unit for the drill stem.

Still another object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a practical composite structure of light weight, simple design, easily handled and obviating the necessity for many operating parts commonly employed in'conventional equipment for like purposes.

Broadly, the invention seeks to comprehend the provision of a combination of an improved rotary table possessing numerous salient features calculated to minimize the expense and effort usually attendant upon drilling operations and providing unusual advantages-heretofore unattainable.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial elevational view of the invention showing portions cut away illustrating the bearing assembly and packing arrangement, and

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the invention showing a portion cut away illustrating the driving worm for the rotary.

An object of the invention is that of providing a rotary table driven by a worm rotated by a flexible shaft having universal joints or flexible couplings.

the Kelly bar and swung aside to permit access to the well for operating drill stem, and other equipment, in and out of the same.

Accordingly, therefore, the invention consists primarily of a housing i, one side of which is semi-circular in plan, as illustrated in Figure 2, while the opposite side defines an integral cylindrical casing 2 whose function will presently be- The entire assembly may, therefore,' be detached from the casing head, elevatedwith come manifest. A pair of integral legs 3 extend downwardly from the. bottom of thehousing has illustrated in Figure/1, and terminate in apertured feet portions lithrough which medium the housing I is, secured to the apertured top flange or casing. head 5 by bolts. 6. Ears 5m integral with the head 5 provide means'forreceiving a lever, not shown, to hold the rotary against torque.

A worm driven rotary l is rotatably disposed on a horizontal plane within the housing l and is secured to an annular flange 8 of a hub 9 by bolts l9, as shown in Figure 1. The hub 9 has a square or hexagonal bore H slidably accommodating the Kelly joint or drill stem (notshown) which is conventionally angular in cross-sectiona1 configuration.

An integral quill l2 extends upwardly from the hub 9 having its upper end adapted to receive a sleeve l3 wherein is arranged a series of laminated packing rings l4 each having a central opening conformably engaging the'angular surface of the Kelly joint and forming a continuation of the square or hexagonal bore H through the hub 9. The packing rings M are adjustably retained within the sleeve l3 by a cap l5 and follower 15a arranged upon the upper end of the sleeve I3.

A downwardly extending sleeve I6 is also integral with the hub 9 and has a cylindrical bore H. The member l6 extends through a round opening a in the bottom of the housing I and downwardly through the casing flange or head 5 secured to the top of a member l8 which screws into the casing, not shown. It is obvious that either male or female threads may be employed. An annular receptacle 1) is affordedbyadepending flange !9 around the central opening in the casing head 5, the lowermost rim of the flange I9 is turned inwardly forming a lip c supporting a series of packing rings 20 which are adjustably retained by a follower 2| secured in position by bolts 22. The member I6 is rotatable within the series of packing rings 20.

The hub 9 is rotatably supported by bearing 23, as illustrated in Figure l, which bear against annular shoulders at and e formed around the hub 9 by reason of an enlarged portion of which the flange B is an integral part.

The lowermost of the bearings 23 reposes within an annular recess 24 around the bottom of the housing I while the uppermost bearing 23 is retained in position by a cover plate 25 for the housing l, an annular depression 26 being provided in the said plate 25 accommodating the said hearing. The plate is secured to the housing I by bolts 21 around its outer rim.

Within the cylindrical integral casing 2 of the housing I is rotatably mounted a worm 28 provided with bearings 29 supporting each end of its stub shaft 30 whose extended end 3| is fluted to operatively receive a coupling of a flexible driven shaft (not shown). The worm 28 engages and rotates the rotary l which in turn imparts rotary motion to the kelly or drill stem (not shown).

Suitable packing rings or grease retainer 32 are arranged above and below the rotary I to retain lubrication around the opening a in the bottom of the housing I and the central opening in the cover plate 25 through which the quill I2 of the hub 9 extends. The rings 32 are arranged within annular recesses 1, above the uppermost of the bearings 23, and or below the lowermost of the said bearings.

Obviously, by reason of the open area around the bottom of the housing I between the leg members 3, free access can be had to the bolts 22 permitting the proper adjustment of the packing rings 20. The device can readily be detached from the casing head 5 by removing the bolts 6 through the feet members 4 or directly from the casing.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of being changed and modified from time to time by those skilled in the art such as substituting for the worm gear shown and described, other types of drive mechanisms and such other changes and modifications as may be considered within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a rotary and stuffing box for well drilling 10 equipment, a flanged member having a depending, threaded element arranged to be received by a well casing head and to be solely supported thereby, a housing supported by and above said flanged member, a tubular quill provided with a square bore to receive a Kelly joint and having one end rotatably mounted in said flanged memher, and extending upwardly through said housing, an annular shoulder on said quill forming a hub within said housing, a worm gear secured to said hub by which said quill is rotated, a worm journaled in said housing enmeshing said worm gear and by which the latter is rotated, means integral with said flanged member for connection to a stationary object to hold said flanged member against rotation and packing means adjacent either end of said quill.

FRED G. BECKMAN. 

